Xref: utzoo comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d:416 news.admin:2656
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!gatech!mcdchg!falkor!heiby
From: heiby@falkor.UUCP (Ron Heiby)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d,news.admin
Subject: Re: No games or picture files for now
Message-ID: <170@falkor.UUCP>
Date: 15 Jun 88 13:35:09 GMT
References: <2350@slvblc.UUCP> <1577@hoqax.UUCP> <22047@amdcad.AMD.COM> <8083@brl-smoke.ARPA> <3918@pasteur.Berkeley.Edu>
Reply-To: heiby@mcdchg.UUCP (Ron Heiby)
Distribution: na
Organization: Luck Dragons, Magic, & Friends
Lines: 46

Craig Browning (browning@cory.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP) writes:
> P.S. To those who suggest Compuserve, YOU go to Compuserve...
I have an account on Compuserve.  Among other things, I found the new version
of ZIP about two weeks before it showed up in comp.binaries.ibm.pc.  Also,
files "hang around" in the libraries on Compuserve until it's convenient for
*me* to get them.  They don't just go away in 1-2 weeks.

> why should those of us who don't pay extra for our accounts have to
> got to the major expense of Compuserve?
The answer to this one's simple.  The reason why people should be asked
to pay their own way is so simple that this early in the morning I can't
find words simpler than that to explain it.  I use a *FREE* program written
by Compuserve members to access the forums and download libraries.  It is
set up to automate things so that all of the human "think time" is done
off-line.  Since 1200 and 2400 bps cost the same, dumping everything I'm
interested in takes a very short amount of time.  The program I use is
called AUTOSIG or ATO.  Another exists that I know little about, called
TAPCIS which seems to do about the same thing.

> The truth is that BBS's have all of the utilities and few of the
> games and pictures, in my calling; all of the utiilities I've liked recently
> on the net recently I had earlier from BBS's, but none of the pictures and
> I'd like to see more games in bin; lots of requests for nethack etc. have
> been posted asking for posting for instance.
Well, I've already mentioned an example of where I got the new ZIP sooner
on Compuserve, so you may be right there.  I understand that Compuserve
has a *large* number of picture files, with a "forum" devoted to pictures.
In the IBM New Users forum libraries, there are games.  Since I don't have
time to play the half dozen games I already have on my PC, I haven't bothered
to even get a directory of the games available, but I've seen discussion of
several of them.

> More seriously, please don't be quick to demand taking away what someone else
> wants, because next time they might take your thing like binaries.
Several sites are already looking at whether to continue to carry binaries.
By not carrying pictures and games, comp.binaries.ibm.pc will demonstrate
that it is worth the communication costs to pass it around.  These are costs
that you obviously don't pay and are not responsible for.  I have been
specifically directed by my boss to do everything I can to reduce our phone
bills.  So far, I've resisted dropping newsgroups.  Other sites are not as
fortunate as I.

> SNAP 3.0 is out; if it's better than 2.2 GET IT.
I believe that I've already seen this announced as available on Compuserve.
-- 
Ron Heiby, heiby@mcdchg.UUCP	Moderator: comp.newprod & comp.unix
"Failure is one of the basic Freedoms!" The Doctor (in Robots of Death)